Masque of the Red Death

In a city ravaged by a devastating plague, everyone lives in fear of catching the contagion. Corpse collectors roam the streets removing the bodies of the poor, whilst the rich don expensive masks to protect themselves as the city crumbles around them.

As the city and its people tremble on the brink of disaster, privileged and wealthy 17-year-old Araby tries to escape reality, blotting it out with drugs and parties. But even at the notorious Debauchery Club, decked out in beautiful dresses and glittery make-up, alongside the city’s young and glamorous, it’s impossible for her to ever really forget about her brother’s death – or the guilt she feels for causing it.

As Araby’s excesses increasingly lead her into danger, she is thrown into the path of two very different young men – Will, the handsome and secretive proprietor of The Debauchery Club, and Elliot, a charismatic young aristocrat, who is determined to bring change to the city. As a deadly new contagion, known as the Red Death, begins to sweep the streets, Araby finds herself unsure of who she can trust, or which way she should turn.

Inspired by the story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe, The Masque of the Red Death is the first in a two-part series about a post-apocalyptic society in turmoil. Bethany Griffin vividly conveys the tense, sinister atmosphere of the plague-ridden city in this dark and gripping dystopian romance.